NEW ORLEANS – The Shocker women's golf team continues their spring campaign with a trip to English Turn Golf & Country Club in New Orleans where they will compete in the Tulane Classic beginning on March 10.
 
Head women's golf coach Tom McCurdy is excited for his team to make its third consecutive trip to the Bayou.
 
"I think we've got a really good crew going down there," said McCurdy. "We certainly have more talent right now than we've had and we've got a group going that's seen and experienced this golf course before."
 
The Shockers are looking to improve in scores their third time around at English Turn Golf & Country Club after a pair of disappointing finishes in the previous two seasons.
 
"The first year we went to New Orleans, the golf course was extremely dry, which is very unusual," said McCurdy. "It's just not something you see at this kind of golf course. The first year was a learning experience for us."
 
The highest finish for any Shocker in their two previous trips to New Orleans came last year from Mackenzie Wilson, who finished tied for 42nd. Wilson also recorded the lowest round score of any Shocker at 75 and the lowest tournament score with 235 (+19).
 
The Shockers best finish in any tournament this season is fourth, which came in their season-opening tournament at the Payne Stewart Memorial in Springfield, Missouri.
 
Fast Facts – Tulane Classic
Dates: Sunday-Tuesday, Mar. 10-12, 2024
Host: Tulane University
Location: New Orleans, La. (English Turn Golf & Country Club)
Yardage: 6,214
Par: 72
Format: 54 Holes (18 each day)
Live Scoring: Golfstat
The Field – 17 Teams: Team (Clippd College Golf Team Ranking)
Colorado State (50), Texas State (53), Notre Dame (75), Missouri (83), Iowa (90), Cal Poly (96), Harvard (108), Southern Mississippi (132), Central Arkansas (133), Tulane (134), UTEP (148), Memphis (149), Howard (163),Wichita State (168), Columbia (176), Princeton (179),  North Carolina A&T (239)
 
Shocker Five in Rio Verde:
Kate Tilma (So.) – Transfer from Kansas State…Competed in all four fall tournaments...Posted the Shocker's only top-5 individual finish of the fall at Payne Stewart Memorial...Second most birdies on team with 29...One of three Shockers to post multiple top-20 finishes in the fall.
Brooklyn Benn (So.) --  Appearing in the lineup for the second time this season and competing in third tournament…Posted season best 18-hole score of 74 in round two of Diamante Intercollegiate on October 23.
 
Mackenzie Wilson (So.) -- Second year Shocker playing in sixth tournament of the season… Competed in all four fall tournaments as a sophomore...Led team in stroke average (73.2) and birdies (34)...Recorded lowest 18-hole score (68) and 54-hole score (212) of any Shocker in the fall, those scores are also her new career lows...Her 212 54-hole score at Diamante was the second lowest in team history.
 
Sarah Lawson (Gr.) – Graduate student competing in 19^th tournament as a Shocker…Making second appearance in the lineup this season and competing in third tournament of the year…Recorded season low round score of 76 in opening round of the Coeur d'Alene Intercollegiate on September 24.
 
Lauren Thiele (R-Fr.) – Appearing in third tournament this season…Competed in two of four fall tournaments...Set personal season low 18-hole score of 76 at Big O Classic on Oct. 2...Finished t-15th in same tournament.
 
Coach McCurdy on…
 
…Kate Tilma:
"Kate has the ability to turn some par fives into par fours because of how long she can hit the ball. She also can carry some of the fairway bunkers that 90% of the tournament field is not going to be able to do. She's going to have a great advantage in that area and she's a great putter as well."
 
…Brooklyn Benn:
"Brooklyn had a really, really good qualifier going into this tournament. She has been working very hard and hitting the ball a lot better. She's playing with great confidence. I'm very excited that she's going to this golf course since she's seen it before and knows what to expect."
 
…Mackenzie Wilson:
"Mackenzie has such a great driver. She can work the ball both ways, has very good distance control with her irons, and she has a great competitive fire. I think she has the capability and potential to have a big breakthrough sometime soon."
 
…Lauren Thiele
"Lauren has made some adjustments to her golf game after playing in her first collegiate tournament earlier this year. She's a great ball-striker, very disciplined, and she's a great competitor."
 
…Sarah Lawson: 
"Sarah has worked really, really hard and she's improving very fast. She is getting really close to peaking. She's swinging the club well and putting well compared to where she was at a year ago. I think this is a good golf course for her to be able to go out and put some good numbers up." 
 
Next Up
The Shockers get no break before their next tournament as they are set to travel back to Arizona on March 16 to compete in the Red Rocks Invitational in Sedona, Arizona, at Oak Creek Country Club.